Outdoor activities in Fort William

Fort William's Indoor Climbing Centre! We have a bouldering wall suitable for absolute beginners up to climbers pushing our V7+ circuit. The roped climbing wall is also available for competent climbers or anyone under the instruction of our notoriously friendly staff. On site we also have an environmentally friendly cafe serving great coffee with organic milk in compostable cups. Or why not try one of our jacket potatoes, fully loaded waffles or real fruit smoothies. We open from 10am-10pm on weekdays and 10am-8pm on weekends. https://www.threewisemonkeysclimbing.com Regular climbers can turn up, sign a form and get climbing straight away. Beginners have the option of going bouldering after a quick induction, or booking onto an instructed course to use the roped climbing wall.

Holes: 9. Par: 68. SSS: 65. Length: 5038 Probably one of the most scenic golf courses in Scotland! In the heart of Glencoe, located not far from Ballachulish and about 12 miles south of Fort William, the Dragon's Tooth is a magnificent, woodland course set below a 3,000+ foot mountain. Hotels and excellent restaurants nearby. Golf Club hire available. We have an excellent Clubhouse and cafe operated by enthusiastic people. Visit Fort William also recommends Traigh Golf Course at Arisaig, a beautiful scenic course by the sea. There is also a good course just north of Fort William and at Spean Bridge.

The centre's position offers exceptional facilities for watersports enthusiasts of all levels. The Lochaber & Fort William area bounded by an extensive coastal & marine environment. Snowgoose Mountain Centre is surrounded by safe water with easy access to the sheltered tidal waters of Loch Linnhe and access to the open sea down the length of Loch Linnhe beyond Corran Narrows. SEA KAYAKING In the Lochaber area there is a truly amazing variety of inland lochs and coastline offering wide selection of sea kayak trips - offering everything from sheltered paddling journeys on placid lochs with lots of islands to discover, to open tidal water with fast tidal currents. Our beginner sea kayak sessions on Loch Linnhe are a gentle introduction to the effects of paddling on tidal waters. The inland lochs of Loch Lochy and Loch Sheil are also excellent locations for sea kayaking. A little further away protected by hundreds of small tidal islands (known as skerries) is the coastline surrounding Arisaig bay. An ideal spot to begin an adventure. This area is home to a huge variety of marine wildlife with a fair weather option to paddle up the coastline towards Mallaig with fantastic views out the Inner Hebrides. RIVER KAYAKING Our novice kayaking sessions, courses & holidays are initially based on the sheltered open inland waters of Loch Linnhe, Loch Lochy, or Loch Shiel                                With a more experience we can easily progress to the moving water of the rivers Lochy, Oich, and later to the amazing white water of the Roy, Spean, etc. Our favourite spot for beginners on moving water is on Loch Lochy in a wide sheltered open bay with visiting ospreys in the summer – along with small rapids tumbling down from Loch Arkaig a few miles above. Based on the short steep side of the country we have good local access to excellent Grade 111 and above white water rivers which are largely spate in nature, some of which are quite technical in nature. This gives excellent training opportunities for intermediate and advanced white water paddling in a unique environment. OPEN CANOEING. These basic skills sessions are based inland on the more sheltered  Loch Lochy or the tidal waters of Loch Linnhe with also excellent locations to learn the skills of open canoe journeying, for day paddles or with an over night wild camping stop.There are excellent opportunities for overnight expeditions for those with a little more experience - we regularly venture further a field to the tidal waters of Loch Moidart – paddle the Rough Bounds into Arisaig; Loch Sheil; Loch Oich and Loch Arkaig. All of this as well as guided open canoe trips over the 70 mile long Caledonian Canal on the Great Glen Canoe Trail – this being one of the favourites. The idyllic River Oich and Loch Lochy are excellent for an introduction to river paddling in an open canoe  learning  to raft up effectively, lining & poling as well as the opportunity to canoe sail on more advanced courses DINGHY SAILING We have a small fleet of 16' Devon Yawls & 21’ keeled Flying 15 dinghies which can take 4 students plus an instructor. These are all weather dinghies which are fun to sail but also fast and responsive for single handed sailing or a family day out.   There are several options available for Dinghy Sailing with our experienced Instructors from ½ day taster sessions for all the family to 2-3 day sailing & boat handling courses.By the end of a 2 day Beginners course you will have experienced handling the dinghy, sail handling, rope work, be aware of safety on board and  be able to sail as a crew in light winds under supervision. There will be hands on experience of:| The dinghy and its main parts; Basic boat handling – how to sail in all wind directions; Launching & recovery;  weather & meteorology. CANOE AND KAYAK HIRE & THE GREAT GLEN CANOE TRAIL Snowgoose Mountain Centre is well placed at the extreme SW end of the Caledonian Canal for the recently opened Great Glen Canoe Trail. This offers a great opportunity to canoe or kayak along the spectacular Caledonian Canal which runs for nearly 70 miles from near Fort William to Inverness along the very varied stretches of canal as well as the wide open waters of Loch Lochy, Loch Oich and Loch Ness (which are classed as inland seas).We provideGuided canoe & sea kayak trips along the Great Glen Canoe Trail as well as 2 - 5 day expeditions in other fantastic remote and wild locations on the west coast of Scotland. We do not hire our boats to inexperienced paddlersFull open canoe, sea & river kayak hire / outfitting packages including paddles, buoyancy aids, barrels, BDH bottles, dry bags, trolley wheels, etc.  Full camping & expedition equipment hire - plus full information on the best campsites & local services.A full shuttle service for boats & gear to the end of the finish of the Canoe Trail and elsewhere - and free drop of to the top of Neptune's Staircase at Banavie to all our hire customers.  Locally based paddling information and advice when you arrive with us - based on over 30 years of local paddling experience.

Thistle Trekking provides guided walking holidays in the UK, including on Ben Nevis, West Highland Way, Cape Wrath Trail and The Skye Trail. All our guided treks give you the luxury of enjoying the walk without having to worry about organising all the details, including accommodation and baggage transfer, or worry about trying to find your way. This means you can just enjoy the walk and let us do all the worrying for you! Our Long Distance Trails Include: • The West Highland Way • The Cape Wrath Trail • The Great Glen Way • The Skye Trail • The East Highland Way Our Mountain Walks and Scrambles Includes: • Ben Nevis • Aonach Eagach Ridge • Skye Cuillin Ridge • The Torridon Mountains Private Guides can be hired for all the above and any additional requirements in the Scottish Mountains including: • Winter Skills Courses • Guided Winter or Summer Munros • Ben Nevis scrambles (e.g. Ledge Route, Tower Ridge) About Us All our staff; walking guides, climbing guides, trek managers and office staff are all qualified Mountain Leaders or Mountaineering Instructors. 

Wild Food, Wild Places, we have a 40ft deluxe charter vessel Cyfish with comfortable seating and galley to cook from.  This makes the perfect platform to explore the seascapes and environs of the Knoydart peninsula, Isle of Skye, Eigg, Rum, Muck and Canna  the Hebridean Treasures. Experience wildlife and nature in its timeframe.  Venture off the beaten track, visit remote inaccessible places, fish and forage, cook your catch on board our vessel or on a remote beach over an open fire. Share traditional skills local knowledge and story telling,  Making your adventures personal we lead the way......

At Lochaber Guides we pride ourselves in offering our clients a unique and unforgettable experience in the Scottish Mountains. From meeting you at the start of your trip to taking the final few steps, our highly experienced, professional and qualified guides will be there to look after you and give you a trip to remember! Being a small company, we like to offer our clients a personalised touch. That may mean meeting you the night before for an informal chat about your trip with us the following day, picking you up and dropping you off at your accommodation, or joining you for a celebratory drink after your successful day in the mountains. We specialise in guided ascents of Ben Nevis: For those wishing to take a walking route to the summit, we can guide you on the Mountain Track or the more challenging but spectacular Carn Mor Dearg Arete. We also offer guiding on some of the classic mountaineering/scrambling routes on Ben Nevis such as Ledge Route and the outstanding Tower Ridge ! For those wishing to do some rock climbing on the UK’s highest mountain, North East Buttress and Observatory Ridge are fantastic routes to the summit. · In nearby Glencoe, the spiritual home of Scottish Mountaineering, we can offer guiding on some of the areas classic scrambles such as Curved Ridge on Buachaille Etive Mor or the (in)famous Aonach Eagach Ridge! As well as these technical routes, we can guide you on walks in Glencoe to suit all levels of experience. We run courses in Hill skills, for those taking their first steps into the hills, as well as courses in scrambling, for the walkers who wish to become mountaineers! We also offer courses in Rock Climbing for all levels, ranging form beginners, to those wishing to lead multi-pitch climbs.   Further afield, we can guide you on the mighty Cuillin Ridge on Skye with days ranging from bagging the Munros, some classic scrambles or the full Cuillin Ridge Traverse. Winter -The popular Ben Nevis in Winter trip -Guided Munro walking -Winter Skills Courses- 1 day or 2 day or tailor made -Ben Nevis Winter Weekend- a day of skills followed by a day climbing the UK's Highest Peak in Winter! Lochaber Guides is run by Dave Anderson. Dave holds Mountaineering Instructors Award (MIA), the highest UK instructional award for Summer mountaineering/climbing. He also holds the Winter Mountain Leader Award. More importantly though, he is super friendly and has a true passion for the mountains and his enthusiasm shines through. Whether you are new to the mountains or experienced we are here to help you fulfil your goals in a safe, friendly and professional way. Adventure Awaits... www.lochaber-guides.co.uk

If you are looking for a Ben Nevis Mountain Guide, Adventure Nevis is a Scottish-based guiding service offering classic mountain days on Ben Nevis, Britain's highest mountain, standing at 1,344 metres. The Ben Nevis mountain footpath ascent - 6 to 8 hours - is ideal for public, private and charity groups. For the slightly more experienced walker, Ben Nevis via the CMD arete - 8 to 10 hours - is a fantastic mountaineering experience. Adventure Nevis is owned and operated by Peter Khambatta. Peter has over 20 years' experience and holds both Summer and Winter Mountain Leader Awards. To check availability and to tell me about yourself or group, please complete the form below. I look forward to hearing from you.

Kirkhope Mountain Biking is a bespoke Mountain bike guiding and coaching company based in the Highlands of Scotland. We offer half or full day coaching courses and single or multi day guided trips through out Scotland and specialize in big adventurous days out in the many varying landscapes that Scotland has to offer. Popular trips include: • The Torridon loop • Cairngorm adventures • The devil's staircase and the Ciaran path Please get in touch via email at scott@kirkhopemountainbiking to discuss what mountain bike adventure you would like next.

Step aboard the Waverley - the last seagoing Paddle Steamer in the world & the classic cruise ship Balmoral. The Waverley visits Fort William on the May Bank Holiday every year and takes day trippers down the water to Oban, Mull and Iona, on a wonderful sea-trip where the scenery is outstanding. The vessel has several lounges and a restaurant.

Ranked as the No. 1 outdoor activity attraction in our area on Tripadvisor in 2015, Our staff ensure that your activity is a fun and memorable holiday experience that you and your family will remember for life! We are based in the heart of the Great Glen on Loch Oich and the Caledonian Canal in between Fort William and Fort Augustus. Active Highs is a modern Outdoor Activity and Adventure Company with a team of friendly and highly professional instructors and guides that love what they do! White Water Rafting On The River Garry - Grade 3& 4 Dam Release Water, March to October! Our white water rafting trips on the River Garry are the best guaranteed white water rafting in the U.K. due to the weekly releases of water from the dam when all other rivers can be low or even dry. The River Garry offers grade 3 & 4 white water which is suitable for first time rafters, families and also seasoned adventure lovers, Age 8 +. Book Online Here River Rafting Safari Trips £45 pp A fun way to enjoy a river journey for those with younger children or anyone looking for a more gentle introduction to rafting. We normally raft the River Oich on this trip which takes us on a 5 mile journey over half a day taking in the scenery and finishing in Loch Ness at Fort Augustus. Book Online Here  White Water Funyakking £50 pp Experience the rapids in a more up close and personal way in our 2 man inflatable funyaks! Navigate the river and negotiate the rapids with your partner under instruction form your river guide - Book Online Here  Half Day Canyoning Trips From £55 pp Canyoning is a fast growing adventure sport that involves jumping from rocks and cliffs, sliding down natural water flumes and abseiling over waterfalls. If you are looking for a real adventure and something different then canyoning is for you! Active Highs have canyoning trips that are suitable for people with no experience or seasoned canyoneers. We have a range of trips available and all equipment is provided including wetsuits and all safety equipment. Age 12+ Book Online Here Gorge Walking Adventures £45 pp A step down from canyoning but equally as fun, gorge walking involves scrambling up and down small waterfalls, wading and swimming through the gorge, exploring the water course and river bed with the option of some smaller jumps into deep pools. A great activity for families and groups, Age 8+ Book Online Here Canoe Trips From £30pp Being based on Loch Oich which is part of the Caledonian Canal system, we have access to some of the most spectacular pieces of water in the UK! We have a great range of canoe trips available that are suitable for anyone from beginners looking to try out canoeing to experts looking to challenge themselves on water or traverse the Great Glen. Check out our trips here! Kayak Trips From £30 pp At Active Highs we have over 25 years of kayaking experience and can offer anything from fun come and try it sessions on the loch to full day sea kayak trips or introduction to white water and river trips. We have a fleet of general purpose and white water kayaks as well as a fleet of specialist touring and sea kayaks. 

Learn to take better digital photographs on one of our photography courses. Digital photography is a fantastic, well-developed medium for capturing great photographs and video. Its never been easier to take good photos - with a little help and advice. I offer personal One-2-One photography courses, tuition and excursions in and around the Fort William and Ben Nevis area to anyone who wishes to learn more about their digital camera, and who wants to take better photographs. If your interest is in landscape photography or video; portrait photography or outdoor sports photography, I can help you get the best out of your camera. Each field trip can be tailored to suit individual needs. I can arrange 2-3 hour photography field trips for up to 3 persons. If you have a DSLR camera and a tripod, one of my short photography courses could be just for you. If you don't have a DSLR just yet, I can provide advice about these and offer you the chance to take photos with a Canon 5D and a variety of lenses and equipment. Photography Field Trip for 1 person: £85.00 Photography Field Trip for 2 persons: £150.00 Photography Field Trip for 3 persons: £195.00 During the photography field trip I will show you how to control camera aperture and shutter speeds; help you understand how to work with depth of field; understand working with different focal length lenses; show you how to improve photo composition; demonstrate how to tweak your photographs afterwards. I can provide Gift Vouchers if you would like to gift a Photography Field Trip for a friend or relative. If you would like to book B&B or self catering in a superb photo location, and at the same time as your field trip, I can provide this at our well established Woodside B&B Fort William. I can offer two ensuite bedrooms, a personalised breakfast of your choice and private, secluded parking - plus a view of Ben Nevis to die for...

The Arisaig Highland Games open at 12 noon on Wednesday 30th July and this year the Games will feature a Clan Donald Gathering hosted by the home clan, Clan Ranald. The venue is the scenic location of Traigh Farm, Arisaig with sweeping views across sandy beaches towards the Cuillins of Skye & the Small Isles of Eigg and Rhum. The route for the ceremonial march led by Lochaber Schools Pipe Band has still to be confirmed - but further details will appear on our website in due course. After the parade arrives at the field, the Games will then be officially opened by Ranald, 24th Captain of Clan Ranald. The Games features a full list of traditional events including solo piping, throwing the hammer, tossing the caber, highland dancing, and a range of track and field events including children’s races.Around the arena there will be a variety of side shows, exhibition tents, trade stalls and refreshment stands. And to round it all off, we finish with a traditional cèilidh dance in the village hall in the evening. Admission: Adults £6, Children £3, Parking £2. Family Ticket £20.  Cèilidh Dance £6 (evening).